Peripheral nerve function and lower extremity muscle power in older men.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Muscle power declines with age, increasing fall and disability risk in older adults.
• Peripheral nerve function is crucial for motor control and muscle strength.
• The relationship between sensorimotor peripheral nerve function and muscle power in aging men requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if sensorimotor peripheral nerve function is associated with muscle power in community-dwelling older men.
• To investigate the predictive value of nerve function for muscle power decline over time.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal cohort study followed 372 older men (mean age 77.2 years) for 2.3 years.
• Muscle power was measured using a power rig.
• Peroneal motor and sural sensory nerve conduction, monofilament sensitivity (1.4-g and 10-g), and neuropathy symptoms were assessed.

Main Results:

• Lower motor and sensory nerve amplitudes and impaired monofilament detection were associated with reduced muscle power, even after adjusting for body composition.
• These nerve function deficits were equivalent to 1.4-3.4 years of age-related muscle power decline.
• Baseline 1.4-g monofilament insensitivity predicted a greater decline in muscle power.

Conclusions:

• Worse sensorimotor peripheral nerve function is associated with lower muscle power in older men.
• Monofilament sensitivity may serve as an early indicator of muscle function decline, with implications for identifying individuals at risk of disability.